Suit design for a leg prosthetic

ABSTRACT

A garment for retaining a prosthesis assembly includes a sleeve configured to encase at least a portion of a limb and at least a portion of a prosthesis for the limb. The garment further includes tension bands extending along the sleeve and configured to secure the prosthesis to the limb. Another exemplary garment is a body suit including a pant leg configured to encase at least a portion of a leg and at least a portion of a leg prosthesis. The body suit further includes tension bands integrally extending from the pant leg along a torso portion of the body suit and around a shoulder portion of the body suit and configured to secure the leg prosthesis to the leg.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/036,835 filed Aug. 13, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/036,837 filed Aug. 13, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/036,840 filed Aug. 13, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/036,842 filed Aug. 13, 2014, and U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 62/036,843 filed Aug. 13, 2014 which are all incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

This application is related to co-pending application Ser. No.14/824,363 filed Aug. 12, 2015 (Attorney Docket No. AEI-389-B) entitled“BASE PLATE AND BLADE DESIGN FOR A LEG PROSTHETIC” and to co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 14/824,386 filed Aug. 12, 2015 (Attorney Docket No.AEI-390-B) entitled “BLADE SHROUD DESIGN FOR A LEG PROSTHETIC” which areboth incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to prosthetics, andmore specifically to garments configured to retain and manage forcetransfer from prosthetics.

BACKGROUND

A variety of prosthetics and limb enhancements have been developed forboth aesthetic and functional needs, including leg prosthetics andenhancements to aid wearers in activities such as walking, performingjob functions, and playing sports. One group of leg prosthetics in thiscategory includes trans-tibial prosthetics, often referred to as belowthe knee (BK) leg prosthetics. These have come to include blade type legprosthetics, also known as “flex-foot cheetah” prosthetics, for athleticuse. Although blade type leg prosthetics are otherwise satisfactory,wearers of blade-type leg prosthetics may desire improvements inattachment and retention systems and in managing force transfer from theblade-type prosthetic to the wearer's body while the wearer performsvarious activities.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a garment comprises a sleeve configured to encase atleast a portion of a limb and at least a portion of a prosthesis for thelimb and tension bands extending along the sleeve and configured tosecure the prosthesis to the limb.

In another aspect, a body suit comprises a pant leg configured to encaseat least a portion of a leg and at least a portion of a leg prosthesis.The body suit further comprises tension bands integrally extending fromthe pant leg along a torso portion of the body suit and around ashoulder portion of the body suit and configured to secure the legprosthesis to the leg.

In another aspect, a garment comprises tension bands configured tosecure a prosthesis to a limb. The tension bands partially encase theprosthesis and integrally extend along the limb to encircle at least oneof a neck and a waist and a torso of the wearer.

These and other aspects will be discussed in additional detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawingswherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout theseveral views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded side view of a below the knee blade-typeleg prosthesis assembly including a socket, blade, and an example of abase plate;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example of a blade for ablade-type leg prosthesis assembly;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an example pair of pants retaining theprosthesis assembly of FIG. 1 to the wearer by tension;

FIGS. 4A-4C are front and rear views of exemplary shirts and pantsconfigured to retain the prosthesis assembly of FIG. 1 to the wearer bytension; and

FIGS. 5A-5C are front and rear views of exemplary body suits forretaining the prosthesis assembly of FIG. 1 to the wearer by tension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Garments, or articles of clothing such as shirts, pants, and body suitsare disclosed herein for use in attaching and retaining leg prostheticsor limb enhancements. Examples of such clothing may include tensionbands formed into or integrated with the article of clothing to transfertension forces for retaining the leg prosthetic or limb enhancement upthrough the legs, and optionally, to the upper body. In someembodiments, portions of the tension bands located at or forming abottom edge of the article of clothing extend around and capture aportion of the prosthetic or enhancement, such as the socket in the caseof a leg prosthetic, and the remainder of the tension bands transfertension forces for retaining the prosthetic or enhancement up throughthe legs, and optionally, to the upper body.

As used herein, the terminology “prosthesis” or “prosthetic” mayindicate any artificial limb or limb enhancement, including upperextremity enhancements, lower extremity trans-tibial and trans-femoralprostheses, or other lower extremity enhancements. The non-limitingexamples disclosed herein describe blade-type leg prosthetics, but it iscontemplated that the features described may be utilized with a varietyof prosthetics or enhancements known to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded side view of a below the knee blade-typeleg prosthesis assembly including a socket, blade, and an example of abase plate. The prosthesis assembly 100 may be described as generallycomprising blade 102, base plate 104, and socket 106. Prosthesisassembly 100 is shown as a trans-tibial prosthetic, and often referredto as a below the knee (BK) prosthetic, but it is contemplated thatembodiments of base plate 104 may be utilized with a variety ofprosthetic devices or limb enhancements.

Blade 102 may include blade bottom 108, a first inflexion 112, a secondinflexion 114, and blade top 116. Blade inflexions 112, 114 may allowblade 102 to compress when a load is applied in certain directions. Forexample, blade 102 may compress and expand during walking or running.Blade 102 may be constructed from a variety of natural or syntheticmaterials capable of withstanding forces associated with walking,running, or other wearer activities, such as metal, rubber, and polymer.For example, blade 102 may be made out of a carbon fiber reinforcedpolymer. Blade 102 may be used either with or without base plate 104.

Base plate 104 may be fixedly attached to blade 102 at a blade bottom108 or may be capable of being removably attached and detached using avariety of attachment components. For example, base plate 104 may beattachable to blade 102 using an adapter, sliding engagement, bolts,clips, pins, screws, adhesive, or straps. In the example shown in FIG.1, a set of holes is present in both base plate 104 and blade bottom 108sufficient for bolts, pins, or other means to be threaded through bothbase plate 104 and blade bottom 108 to connect base plate 104 to bladebottom 108. In some embodiments, base plate 104 may attach and capture aportion of blade 102 while contacting both a top and bottom surface ofblade bottom 108.

Removable and interchangeable base plates 104 may allow a wearer tocustomize prosthesis assembly 100 depending on the wearer's activitytype and/or the ground surface characteristics experienced by the wearerduring the activity. For example, base plate 104 may have a bottomsurface 110 including shapes and structures, such as spikes, cleats,scoops, grooves, nubs, cups, and ridges, designed to provide a desiredinteraction with the ground surface for a specific activity. Further,base plate 104 can include a hook 192 providing attachment means for agarment or serving as a retaining means for storage of base plate 104.

Socket 106 may include an open socket top 118 and a closed socket bottom120. Socket 106 may be substantially hollow, having a uniform or varyingthickness. Socket top 118 may be sized accordingly to receive at least aportion of a wearer's limb. Socket 106 may be attached to a wearerduring use through a variety of methods. In some embodiments, frictionbased attachment features may be used such as straps or clips configuredto attach to a garment on a wearer. In some embodiments, suction basedattachments may be utilized, such as a sock or sleeve designed to extendover socket 106 and a wearer's limb. For example, a method of attachmentmay include a wearer placing socket 106 at the end of a limb andattaching socket 106 by pulling a compression sock over socket 106 in adirection from socket bottom 120 to socket top 118 and onto the wearer'slimb.

In some embodiments, socket 106 may be attachable to blade 102 at bladetop 116 using socket attachment members 122. For example, attachmentmembers 122 may be pins or bolts configured to extend through aperturesdefined in blade top 116. Socket 106 may be constructed out of anynatural or synthetic material capable of substantially retaining itsshape, such as metals and polymers. For example, socket 106 may beformed from carbon fiber reinforced polymer and may be formed in acustom shape to match a particular wearer's partial limb.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another example of a blade for ablade-type leg prosthesis assembly 100. Blade 200 may define a frontface 202 and a rear face 204. In some embodiments, front face 202 mayoppose and be substantially parallel to rear face 204, where thickness Tmay define a distance between front face 202 and rear face 204. It isalso contemplated that front face 202 and rear face 204 may be angledwith respect to each other, or that thickness T may vary along thelength of blade 200. Blade 200 may have a maximum width W. In someembodiments, width W may remain constant along blade 200 as illustratedin FIG. 2.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, portions of blade 200 may not twist orrotate about its length, with front face 202 being substantiallyperpendicular to a plane orthogonal to longitudinal axis A. In otherwords, in this example, a blade bottom 206 and a blade top 208 of blade200 remain untwisted. Furthermore, blade 200 of FIG. 2 may be designedsuch that axis A lies in a common plane, with blade 200 beingsymmetrical about the common plane including axis A, such as may besuitable for left and right side leg prosthetics.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an example pair of pants 300 for retaining theprosthesis assembly 100 of FIG. 1 to the wearer by tension. The pants300 may integrally extend from an overlap portion 310 that covers aportion of socket 106 up to and around a waist portion 320 that covers awearer's waist. In some embodiments, pants 300 may support the retentionof the prosthesis assembly 100 to the wearer utilizing tension andfriction. For example, overlap portion 310 may be shaped as a sleevesized to retain socket 106 within pants 300.

Overlap portion 310 may extend over and beyond a portion of socket 106,terminating with bottom edge 312. Overlap portion 310 may includeattachment 314 to aid in the attaching or removal of pants 300 to awearer and/or to prosthetic assembly 100. In some examples, attachment314 may be a zipper configured for travel between an open and closedposition. In an open position, the zipper may allow separation betweentwo loose edges that increase the size of an opening created by bottomedge 312. In the closed position, the zipper may bring two edges of theopening together to reduce the size of the hole or opening created bybottom edge 312.

The attachment may alternatively be a hook, button, and/or loop used todecrease the size of the opening created by bottom edge 312. In anotherexample where the attachment 314 is a strap or lasso (not shown), pants300 may be connected to prosthesis assembly 100 by, for example,capturing a portion of blade bottom 108 or base plate 104 using thestrap. In one example, the strap can be attached to pants 300 andstretched to encircle or capture the hook 192 located on bottom surface110 of base plate 104 shown in FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the openingcreated by bottom edge 312 may be sized smaller than at least a portionof socket 106 that is covered by overlap portion 310. Thus, bottom edge312 of overlap portion 310 may resist or prevent movement of socket 106relative to pants 300.

The partial encasement of socket 106 by pants 300, secured by any of thedescribed attachment methods, may eliminate or reduce any suctionrequired to retain prosthesis assembly 100. It is further contemplatedthat pants 300 may attach to socket 106 using a variety of mechanicalfasteners, such as straps or clips rather than physically capturing aportion of socket 106.

In some examples, pants 300 may include integrated tension bands 330 totransfer the force required to retain prosthesis assembly 100 to areasof the body beyond the legs. Tension bands 330 may provide, in whole orin part, the necessary force to keep overlap portion 310 and socket 106in a desired position against the wearer's limb. In some examples,tension bands 330 are elastic and generally resist tensile forces.Tension bands 330 may include bottom band 332 that may include thebottom edge 312 of overlap portion 310. Thus, tension band 332 mayitself serve to close the opening created by bottom edge 312 when fitagainst socket 106.

Tension bands 330 may be integrally formed in a cover material 340forming the sleeve-like body of pants 300 or, alternatively, beconnected to cover material 340, for example, using stitching, hotmelting, adhesive, or other connection means. Cover material 340 mayalso define a plurality of openings 350, where at least some of theopenings 350 are disposed between some of the tension bands 330.Openings 350 may allow for ventilation of the wearer's limb as well asfor increased flexibility of pants 300.

FIGS. 4A-4C are front and rear views of exemplary shirts and pantsconfigured to retain the prosthesis assembly 100 of FIG. 1 to the wearerby tension. In FIG. 4A, shirt 400 is shown as including a pair of sidetension bands 402, 403 extending along the sides and around theshoulders of a wearer as well as waist tension band 404 and shouldertension band 406. Shoulder tension band 406 extends in a loop about awearer's torso on the front side of shirt 400 and, in a manner similarto suspenders, extends down the wearer's back on the back side of shirt400. In FIG. 4B, shirt 408 is shown as including a single yolk-styletension band 410 extending both around a wearer's waist and over awearer's shoulders.

In FIG. 4C, pants 412 are shown as including a pair of side tensionbands 414, 416 that each extend from the inside of the wearer's thighs,down to a sleeve edge defining a sleeve opening, back up along the legof the wearer to partially encircle the waist of the wearer. Either ofthe shirts 400, 408 can be worn in combination with and attached toeither style of pants 300, 412 in order to create a full body garmentconfigured to secure prosthesis assembly 100 to the wearer and transferimpact forces of use along the wearer's body.

Wearing a combination of shirts 400, 408 and pants 300, 412, or simply apair of pants 300, 412 alone may provide forces that aid in movementsduring walking, running, or other wearer activities. For example, in thecase of pants 300, 412, any of the tension bands 330, 414, 416 may beforced into extending when a wearer extends his or her leg while takinga stride, resulting in a tensile force within tension bands 330, 414,416. Tension bands 330, 414, 416 may also exert a force as the leg movesfrom an extension back to bending which may be beneficial to the wearer.

FIGS. 5A - 5C are front and rear views of exemplary body suits forretaining the prosthesis assembly 100 of FIG. 1 to the wearer bytension. Body suit 500 of FIG. 5A includes waist tension bands 502, 503,leg tension bands 504, 505, and knee tension bands 506, 507. In someexamples, each of the waist tension bands 502, 503, leg tension bands504, 505, and knee tension bands 506, 507 are continuously integratedwith one another. This may allow for the force for retaining prosthesisassembly 100 to be transferred from knee tension bands 506, 507 upthrough leg tension bands 504,505 and further up to waist tension bands502, 503 of body suit 500.

Body suit 508 of FIG. 5B includes intersecting side tension bands 510,512 each extending from a thigh interior of the wearer down a leg andaround a knee before extending back up the leg to an armpit of thewearer and then down an arm. In body suit 508, no intersection of sidetension bands 510, 512 is present on the front of the wearer's body atthe waist; instead, the intersection of side tension bands 510, 512occurs near the small of the wearer's back. Prosthesis assembly 100 canbe retained to the wearer using body suit 508 and force can betransferred from a knee portion of tension bands 510, 512 up along theinsides and outsides of the wearer's legs as well as around the wearer'sback and up the sides of the wearer's torso.

Body suit 514 of FIG. 5C includes leg tension bands 516, 518 loopingaround the thighs and knees of the wearer and extending up tointersecting back tension bands 520, 522. Back tension bands 520, 522extend under the armpits and across the back of the wearer to intersectbetween the wearer's shoulder blades before extending down the torso tointersect with leg tension bands 516, 518. Prosthesis assembly 100 canbe retained to the wearer using body suit 514 and force can betransferred from the knee and thigh portions of leg tension bands 516,518 up along the insides and outsides of the wearer's legs across thewearer's back at the intersection of back tension bands 520, 522 beforeextending out along the wearer's arms.

Additionally, body suits 500, 508, 514 may include cover materiallocated between the various tension bands 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507,510, 512, 516, 518, 520, 522. Body suits 500, 508, 514 may beconstructed from a variety of materials known to those skilled in theart. In some examples, the cover material may be a lightweight fabric,such as polyester or nylon blends. Similarly, the various tension bands502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 510, 512, 516, 518, 520, 522 may be formedfrom any flexible and/or elastic material, for example, polyurethane(TPU).

In some embodiments, shirts 400, 408, pants 300, 412, or full body suits500, 508, 514 may replace the need for traditional inner and/or outersocks to retain socket 106. This may reduce complexity, cost, and weightas well as allowing for a greater range of motion. Additionally, theforce produced by the extension and contraction of any of the tensionbands (see FIGS. 3, 4A-C, 5A-C) may allow a wearer to be more explosiveduring movements. Though in the illustrated examples, shirts 400, 408,pants 300, 412, and full body suits 500, 508, 514 generally include bothtension bands and cover material, it is understood that in otherembodiments, tension bands alone can form any manner of shirt, pants, orfull body suit. When tension bands alone form the garment, a pluralityof openings are disposed between the tension bands.

The above-described embodiments have been described in order to alloweasy understanding of the invention and do not limit the invention. Onthe contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modificationsand equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appendedclaims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so asto encompass all such modifications and equivalent structure as ispermitted under the law.

What is claimed is:
 1. A garment, comprising: a sleeve configured toencase at least a portion of a limb and at least a portion of aprosthesis for the limb; and tension bands extending along the sleeveand configured to secure the prosthesis to the limb.
 2. The garment ofclaim 1, wherein the garment is a body suit and the tension bandsintegrally extend from the sleeve along a leg portion of the body suitand over a torso portion of the body suit.
 3. The garment of claim 1,wherein the garment is a pair of pants and the tension bands integrallyextend from the sleeve along a pant leg of the pants and around a waistportion of the pants.
 4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the sleevecomprises a cover material.
 5. The garment of claim 4, wherein thetension bands are one of integrally formed in the cover material andconnected to the cover material.
 6. The garment of claim 4, wherein thecover material defines a plurality of openings disposed between at leastsome of the tension bands.
 7. The garment of claim 4, wherein the covermaterial includes a plurality of surface feature elements.
 8. Thegarment of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a sleeve edge defining asleeve opening and including an attachment element.
 9. The garment ofclaim 8, wherein the attachment element is configured to reduce the sizeof the sleeve opening to secure the sleeve edge around the encasedportion of limb and the encased portion of the prosthesis.
 10. Thegarment of claim 8, wherein the attachment element includes at least oneof a tension band, zipper, hook, button, and loop.
 11. A body suit,comprising: a pant leg configured to encase at least a portion of a legand at least a portion of a leg prosthesis; and tension bands integrallyextending from the pant leg along a torso portion of the body suit andaround a shoulder portion of the body suit and configured to secure theleg prosthesis to the leg.
 12. The body suit of claim 11, wherein atleast some of the tension bands further integrally extend from the torsoportion along an arm portion of the body suit.
 13. The body suit ofclaim 11, wherein the pant leg comprises a cover material.
 14. The bodysuit of claim 13, wherein the tension bands are one of integrally formedin the cover material and connected to the cover material.
 15. The bodysuit of claim 13, wherein the cover material defines a plurality ofopenings disposed between at least some of the tension bands.
 16. Thebody suit of claim 13, wherein the cover material includes a pluralityof surface feature elements.
 17. The body suit of claim 11, wherein thepant leg includes a bottom edge defining a leg opening and including anattachment element.
 18. The body suit of claim 13, wherein theattachment element is configured to reduce the size of the leg openingto secure the bottom edge around the encased portion of the leg and theencased portion of the leg prosthesis.
 19. The body suit of claim 13,wherein the attachment element includes at least one of a tension band,zipper, hook, button, and loop.
 20. A garment, comprising: tension bandsconfigured to secure a prosthesis to a limb, wherein the tension bandspartially encase the prosthesis and integrally extend along the limb toencircle at least one of a neck and a waist and a torso of the wearer.